Chapter 7: The Forgotten Element
The sounds of drums sounded once more, as yet another ceremony had begun for the captured Elemental Masters about to have their powers taken away. Chen's henchponies were chanting 'Only one can remain' as Charm, Grimoire, and Topaz stood in front of them. "Bring in the prisoners. Charm ordered as a grunt pony pulled a lever and a gate opened before the remaining Elemental Masters, two of the Ninja, and most of the Mane Six were being brought in with chains of Vengestone wrapped around their necks.
"So the Ninja and the Council were right," Turner whispered to Shade. "This was never about any of us winning the tournament. This was always about something sinister."
"What gave that away?" Shade asked rhetorically. "Was it his cult following, or the giant snakehead?"
"We've been fighting each other for so long, it took us all losing to finally put us together," Grey mentioned while Thunder was humming happily. "Too bad it's too late."
"Why are you humming?!" Trail asked Thunder. "You do know they're about to take our powers and magic?!"
"Even I know this is not a good thing to hum about," Pinkie Pie mentioned.
"Since these cursed shackles have blocked our powers, I choose to use the power of positive thinking," Thunder told them. "Lloyd and the others will come to save us. You just wait."
"I really hope they'll come soon," Fluttershy whispered before the chanting and the drum beating stopped. Topaz looked at them before she looked away with guilt.
"Go ahead and look away, bet that's your talent: turning your back on your friends," Rainbow sneered as Topaz shuffled back a bit in hurt.
"But you know as well as we do, after he takes our powers, he's still gonna need yours," Trail added.
Topaz looked at them, "You don't understand. When I came here, my grandfather said that he was collecting the Elements to free the threat of them from Equestria," she explained with a frown, "But by the time I realized he was really up to, he was already too powerful for me. I had no choice."
"You always have a choice," Rainbow retorted with a frown.
"Just tell me one thing: Was it his idea to make me fall for you, or yours? Because it worked," Trail told Topaz, which made her gasp in surprise before she let out a sad sigh.
"Lock 'em down," Grimoire ordered as the guards made them kneel. "All rise for Master Chen!"
Everycreature in the chamber looked around before the cars beaded on the drums harder while the rest of them cheered. Chen was then seen floating around in his throne while he held his Staff.
"Look at me, I'm floating!" Chen bragged as he floated just above their heads. His minions then gasped when he suddenly and nearly dropped before he hovered just above the ground. "I got it. I got it." He assured them before he landed in front of Grimoire, Charm, and Topaz. "I just got distracted by how awesome this place looks. Well done, Grimy and Charmy. You've both really set the mood." The twins bowed and respected from that compliment before Chen turned to the prisoners. "And look at this. Soon I'll have more power. It's good to be me."
"You may have us, but you still don't have Flash or the Light Ninja," Thunder told Chen with a smirk.
"Ah yes. I bet right now they'll swoop down to save you at the very last moment and teach me a valuable lesson," Chen teased before sitting down. "Well, I'll wait. I love lessons."
They all waited for a few moments, but so far, nothing happened. "Any minute now," Thunder said nervously.
"They should be here," Pinkie said next as well, feeling a bit nervous as her ears dropped.
"That's enough. I'm bored," Chen said as he leaned on his hoof before facing the prisoners again and sat up from his throne. "But here's a lesson: Don't be a sore loser. Only one can remain!" He shot his Staff at them.
The captured Elemental Masters and Princesses all grunted as the Staff hit them, their Elemental powers and magic being pulled out from them and entering the Staff before they fell to their hooves as Chen smirked at them.
"The power is mine. All mine!" Chen called as he raised his Staff up.
Thunder looked down in despair. "They never came," he said in sadness.
"Take them to the factory," Chen ordered his minions as they brought the now powerless prisoners up. Trail looked at Topaz in betrayal as she looked at him, feeling guilty for betraying him, Rainbow and the others as she turned to her grandfather.
"Grandfather, please, spare Trail and Rainbow," Topaz said as Chen turned to her in surprise. "I've seen inside their heads. They're different. They can help you."
Chen gave a teasing smirk, "You like the stallion and the Element of Loyalty, don't you?" he asked before he smiled. "If it will make you happy. Leave the Fire pony and the rainbow one," Trail and Rainbow kept their glares as they were unchained by Chen's order, but the others were dragged away.
Meanwhile, at sunset, Lloyd, Flash, Twilight, Rarity, Aqua, Spike, Garmadon, and Luna are outside the palace walls as they look at it heavily guarded.
"He knows we're coming. But we can't just hide here and do nothing," Lloyd said impatiently.
"He's probably already stolen the others' powers and magic by now," Flash added with a serious look. "And it makes him even more powerful than before. Why not just go in now?" He questioned.
"There's no way we can take on that much power," Twilight told her coltfriend. "Our best bet is to leave and come back with reinforcements. Without yours and Lloyd's powers, Chen will never finish his spell."
"We're not leaving our friends, Twilight," Lloyd pointed out firmly. "And even if we could get back, Chen's probably going to try and torture them or feed them to that giant snake,"
"Then whatever shall we do?" Rarity asked in worry.
"We'll just have to wait until nightfall," Aqua suggested as she gestured to the gates. "There's too many."
"And then what?" Spike asked in worry. "Every minute we're out here, that crazy cultist pony grows more powerful-"
"Young ones," Luna spoke up. "Chen grows strong by taking from others. But real power does the opposite," she said with a warm smile.
"She's right," Garmadon said next as he turned to his son. "It empowers those around you. Like the way you've empowered me, son," He soon faced the rest of them. "We will get you all to Chen, and you will destroy his Staff," With his assurance, they all faced the palace again.
At the front gates, the one-eyed cultist pony and the two guards are guarding the outer gates as former paced around.
"Ah. Would you look at that? If a foot soldier like Eyezor can move up the chain of command, why can't we?" he questioned while gesturing to their one-eyed superior walking up to one of the guards that was sleeping on the job. "I mean, the stallion's only got one good eye, and we each got like, two. We could spot a Ninja twice as fast as he could."
"But he's got a mohawk," his friend stated. "And his name: Eyezor. It's got a real ring to it. And it's practical," he commented as Eyezor went up to the guard and knocked his Staff down to wake him up. "You know, with his creepy sore eye and all."
The first guard then has an idea. "That's it. That's it. We need names," he said with a smile. "We need something that'll make us, you know, stand out. I got it. Call me Kapau!" he called out while doing a pose.
"Oh, that's good," the second guard said as Kapau gave a smile. "What should I be?... Oh, I know. Hey. Who's that? It's Maleficium!" He called with a pose.
"Malefici…?" Kapau tried to say the name but could not. "That's a horrible name. I can hardly pronounce it."
"Then how about, uh…" The second guard thought for a moment before he thought of a name, "…Chope?"
Eyezor was holding the guard up by the chest as he turned to Kapau and Chope when he heard them. "Hey!" he called as he dropped the guard and walked towards them.
"Chope?" Kapau repeated. "Yeah, not gonna judge. Wait a minute, yes I am. That is awesome!"
Chope then smiled widely. "Look out Equestria. Kapau and Chope movin' up the ranks," he said.
"Yeah," they both said before Eyezor got next to Chope, which startled the two guards.
"No talking on duty, minions," Eyezor reminded them firmly.
"Um, actually it's Chope and Ka-" Chope tried to say.
"I SAID NO TALKING!" Eyezor cut him off, yelling even louder.
Meanwhile, at the underground factory, Thunder, most of the Mane Six, Starlight, Smolder, Max and Mini are in the factory while in their prison uniforms. A guard shoved Applejack and Thunder. "Alright, alright we're movin'," Applejack said, adjusting her hat. "Ya don't gotta get all rough about it."
"Work," the guard said before walking off.
"No, no. It's not work if you love what you do," Thunder said with a smile.
"Yeah, the power of positive thinking," Pinkie said in agreement.
"Are you two really saying that since we have our powers and magic removed and are being forced to work in an underground noodle factory?" Max questioned with a brow.
"Well, we have to stay positive! There's never a bad time for positive thinking," Pinkie said cheerfully.
"Well, if you say so," Smolder said dully.
"It's better than thinking negative," Starlight said optimistically.
"Psst…" a voice said quietly as the group turned and saw three familiar faces in front of them, which caused them to smile widely.
"Landrush? Gaia? Frost? Is that you?" Thunder asked in joy when he and the others saw their three friends in disguises as they smiled back as well.
"Hello, darlings," Gaia said quietly.
"Wow! Frost, you look so shiny!" Pinkie cheered, noticing Frost's titanium appearance as she made funny faces on his skin before she quickly gave him a quick hug. "It's so good to see you again, buddy," she said.
"Wow, nice look, Frost," Starlight said.
"I like it," Smolder said with a shrug and a smile.
"We missed you so much," Fluttershy said softly.
"You darn tootin' we did! It's good to see ya again, partner," Applejack said with a tip of her hat.
"Quiet. Not so loud," Landrush told them quietly as they all covered their mouths. "They think we've escaped and don't know we're here."
"We were lucky those brutes are too dumb to notice us in these disguises," Gaia said while gesturing to their prison clothes and their hats.
"Why would you three come back?" Max asked in wonder.
"Because, we're breaking everycreature out," Landrush explained with a smirk.
"Correction: we're building our way out," Frost corrected, pointing to the side where Yah-Karlof, Dr. Gear, and Rivet, both in disguise, were working on two machines.
"Dr. Gear is here too?" Fluttershy asked in surprised.
"She was captured along with Frost for a while, we'll explain later," Gaia quickly mentioned.
"And they think we're fixing the noodle and dumpling machines, but we're fixing a Roto Jet and Skychopper," Landrush explained.
"A Roto Jet and Skychopper?" Max asked in unified confusion with the others. "But aren't we underground?"
"That's what I have been saying!" Gaia said in agreement.
Rivet then turned to them when she heard it as she used her tail as a fake mustache. "What happened to positive thinking?" she asked with a small smile.
"No talking! And hurry up with that noodle and dumpling machines!" One of the guards demanded from above them.
"Okay, okay! Will you take a chill pill?" Rivet said in annoyance with a Manehattan accent.
"Once these babies are ready, the noodles and dumplings are gonna fly out of this factory!" Dr. Gear promised before giving a small smirk. "In more ways than one."
Landrush then turned to their friends. "Hey, do any of you know where Rainbow and Trail are?" He asked them.
"We heard that Lloyd, Flash, and the others are the ones left," Gaia added.
"Last we heard, those two are gettin' the 'special treatment'," Applejack explained, doing air quotes.
"And something tells us it has something to do with Chen turning them against us," Max said in a serious tone.
Somewhere in the palace, Chen is showing Rainbow Dash and Trail through the hallway filled with trophies, artifacts, paintings, and other historical and familiar things.
"A scale from the Great Devourer, Captain Saltbeak's peg leg, a cog from the Celestial Clock, the Golden Idol of Boreas, Frost's pink Gi, and this." Chen picked up a sword that was made from a bone of an Anacondrai and some scales, swinging it around while Rainbow and Trail stood back in surprise. "An Anacondrai Sword. Sharpest blades in Equestria, fit for the greatest warrior to ever do battle for Equestria."
"Okay, where did you even get these things? The scale of the Great Devourer? Frost's old Gi, which is somehow pink again for some reason," Rainbow listed out before turning to the griffon artifact. "And especially this, the Idol of Boreas. I thought it was lost in a ridge when me and Pinkie went there on a Friendship Quest to Griffonstone."
"Oh, I have my sources here and there," Chen answered coyly while putting the Anacondrai Sword back.
"Then why are you showing us all this?" Trail questioned as he and Rainbow gave him a look. "You do realize if you weren't holding that Staff right now, we strike you down right here." He punctuated his threat by smashing his hooves together.
"Yeah, and we'd bust our friends out faster than you could say 'Sonic Rainboom'!" Rainbow growled.
Chen gave them an impressive smile. "Topaz was right. Even without your power or magic, the Fire burns bright in you, Trail. And you, Princess Rainbow Dash, even with the odds stacked against you without your speed, your Loyalty is unwavering." They continued on down the hallway, "Unlike either of you and my dear Topaz, who inherited her powers from her ancestor on her mother's side before she and her husband passed on, I, much like other Earth Ponies, was never born with natural abilities." Trail and Rainbow looked bored as they yawned. "I was told I would amount to nothing. But I will show them they are all wrong. Look!" He then pointed to a painting of an Anacondrai Army bursting from the ground.
Trail and Rainbow cringed at the unnerved painting as Chen continued. "I call it 'The Charge of the Dark Brigade'. It's beautiful, isn't it?" Chen asked them as they frowned at him. "The reds, the purples, the super dark purples. After I defeat your little Light and Wind friends, the remaining Council, and Princess Twilight and take their powers and magic, I will have all the Elements and magic I need to conjure a spell that will transform me and my worshipers into Anacondrai," he declared.
"Wait, you're planning to turn into an Anacondrai?" Rainbow asked in shock.
"Yes. That's what the spell is for," Chen confirmed. "With you and your friends gone, nothing will stop me. But I've seen inside both your heads," he said with a smirk as he tapped both Trail and Rainbow on their heads. "I know you're still jealous that Lloyd was chosen to be the Light Ninja, Trail. And you, Rainbow Dash. You were always jealous of Twilight being the first to find her True Potential and become ruler of the land, and you were left in her shadow."
Rainbow and Trail looked away as they were feeling like that as Chen kept his smirk at them. "It could've been you two. Have either of you ever wondered what it felt like to have so much power pulsing through your veins and have creatures look up to you? Yes, you two have. There is so much potential in you both," he said as Rainbow and Trail were still in thought before Chen placed his hooves over them. "I want to give you both the chance to find it."
"We will never turn on our friends!" Trail firmly said to them.
"And there's nothing you can do change our minds!" Rainbow added with a firm look.
"Of course," Chen said while still giving them a smile, "But what if I also told you, Trail, that there were secrets about your parents that your senseis and former princesses never told any of you or your sister?" Rainbow raised a brow and Trail stepped back. "Dark secrets."
"My parents?" Trail asked in surprise. "What secrets?"
"Don't listen to him, Trail," Rainbow said to him. "He's just trying to get in your head."
"Oh, but it's not Trail's secrets that I know. What if I know a couple of secrets about your ancestors as well, Rainbow Dash?" Chen asked, which got Rainbow's attention. "Because it's a shocker that Princess Celestia and Luna, as well as your Senseis, never told you."
"My ancestors? What do you know about them?" Rainbow asked in confusion.
"So many questions that can be so easily be answered," Chen said with a smile before Grimoire and Charm walked up to them.
"Master, it is nightfall," Grimoire informed.
"Meaning that the Light Ninja, the Master of Wind, Princesses Rarity and Twilight will be making their moves shortly," Charm finished.
Chen then turned to Rainbow and Chen. "Think about it," he said as he and the twins walked off.
Rainbow and Trail looked at each other in conflict about Chen's offer as they looked at the painting, "Hmm…" Trail hummed.
"What are we gonna do, Trail?" Rainbow asked.
"I may have a thought," Trail said to her as Rainbow turned to him in interest.
At night outside the palace, the remaining heroes were all still waiting as the moonlight shone on them. "Remember, destroy the Staff, and everycreature's power and magic returns to their rightful owners," Garmadon reminded them.
"You ponies came here to make your team whole. The time has come to fulfill that mission," Luna declared.
"You know we always keep our promise," Frost said as him and Lloyd put on their masks while the others got ready for the attack.
Aqua then shot an arrow tied to a rope with a crossbow over the wall as it hit the roof of the palace as the heroes ziplined through as Garmadon took out the guard on the roof. Rarity front-flipped over and knocked down two with her karate moves as they all stood in front of the window.
The eight then entered the palace through the window quietly as they tiptoed in, but then Lloyd tripped a line with his hoof as the lights turned on and the alarm went off as the guards appeared in front of them.
"Oh, I hate these traps," Rarity groaned in annoyance as they all fought the guards, but then more came in from behind them.
"There's too many of them!" Lloyd called out.
"Go! We'll handle this!" Aqua said as she and Spike started fighting the guards.
"You ponies find Chen and stop him!" Spike added as the others ran down the while while he and Aqua fought the guards.
They ran down the hall before they saw two familiar twins in front of them. "Look out!" Both Garmadon and Luna called as they all dodged Grimoire and Charm's dark magic but they were flung back with a grunt.
"I really hate dark magic," Flash groaned as they all stood up.
"Go, young masters," Luna said to them.
"Leave Grimoire and Charm to us," Garmadon finished as the two glared down at the twins.
"Are you sure?" Twilight asked the two in concern.
"Don't worry, this is between us," Luna said seriously.
"Well, good luck," Lloyd said to them.
"Your elders don't believe in luck," Charm sneered.
Flash smirked. "Yeah, but that's not for them," he explained as he, Lloyd, Rarity, and Twilight rushed off.
Garmadon and Luna then grabbed the swords on display as they drew them at the twins while said twins grabbed two Anacondrai Swords. "Just like back in the training yard," Garmadon sneered as they circled each other.
"Only this time, we refuse to lose!" Grimoire yelled as the four clashed with each other but then Garmadon and Luna's swords broke forcing them to rely on their hooves and magic alone.
Lloyd, Flash, Twilight, and Rarity kept running through the halls, but then a trapdoor opened beneath them as they all fell through and into the underground tunnels with a yell before hitting the floor.
"Aw, Chen and his trap doors," Lloyd said in annoyance.
"Seriously, how many trap doors does this ruffian have?" Rarity questioned in annoyance.
They then heard a loud hissing sound and looked down the tunnel to see the Anacondrai Serpentine slithering towards them. "Oh, come on, not again!" Flash complained.
"Guys! Over here!" Rainbow called as she and Trail appeared from another opening down the tunnel.
"This way, hurry!" Trail added, holding a torch.
"Trail! Rainbow!" Twilight cheered as the four quickly ran towards their two friends and ducked down the tunnel as the Serpentine slithered past them. "You're okay," she said in relief.
"You got away from Chen," Rarity said with a smile.
"Only by a feather," Rainbow said as she and Trail led them down the tunnel. "But Chen took all our powers and we lost touch with the others."
"If we can find them…" Trail tried to explain but Lloyd cut them off.
"There's no time. We have to stop Chen. Alone, if we have to," Lloyd said to them.
"So if you two know a way to him we can…" Twilight trailed off as Rainbow and Trail turned to them with guilty expressions. "What? What's wrong?"
"Sorry about this, guys," Rainbow said in guilt as Trail blew out the torch.
"This will all make sense when it's over," Trail finished in the dark.
"Hey wha-? Rainbow, Trail's what going-!?" Flash was cut off when something hit him on the back of his head and Rarity grunted as something similar hit her too.
And then after a moment, Lloyd and Twilight came out from the end of the tunnel. "Rainbow? Trail? Where are you guys?" Lloyd asked.
"Wait, where's Flash and Rarity?" Twilight asked in worried as they looked around, seeing that two more of their friends were gone.
Suddenly, the lights turned on and they found themselves in the throne room with the tournament roster now showing Lloyd and Twilight battling Chen. "The final round. It all ends here!" Chen declared as he came up in front of them with the Staff in his hooves.
"You! You turned Rainbow and Trail against us?!" Lloyd questioned angrily as he put on his mask and Twilight powered up her horn.
"Like I said, only one can remain," Chen said to them.
"I think you mean only two will remain!" Twilight corrected as she fired a magic laser at Chen but he then dodged with blinding speed. "What the?!" She gasped in shock.
"The Element of Speed!" Lloyd realized.
Chen then appeared behind them. "Oh please!" He mocked. "What use is Light and Magic, when I have the rest! Shadow!" He then disappeared into the darkness.
Twilight and Lloyd looked around for any sign of Chen. "We know what you're up to! The days of the Great War are over!" Twilight yelled as she charged up her horn while Lloyd charged up his powers.
"You're just living in the past!" Lloyd finished.
"Wrong," Chen spoke as then a fire Element shot up as the two quickly dodged it as Chen appeared. "I decide when it's over. And who doesn't like a blast from the past?" He joked as he aimed his Staff at them. "Ice!" He called, shooting an ice blast.
Lloyd and Twilight jumped behind the roster as the ice blast hit it and froze it solid. As the ice cracked Chen cackled. "Energy!" He fired an energy blast at the roster, breaking the ice and sending Lloyd and Twilight flying and then crashing onto the ground. "When my followers become Anacondrai, Equestria will be controlled by those that deserve it: the most powerful!" Chen declared as Lloyd and Twilight struggled to their hooves.
"We won't let that happen!" Twilight grunted in pain from the brisk flight. "We will stop you!"
"Oh, I don't think so. Gravity!" Chen slammed his Staff down, which caused the two to float up in the air as they were upside down in the ceiling. Chen then ran up the side wall, jumped onto the lamps, and then onto the ceiling as he levitated the two with his Staff.
Chen then proceeded to Knock Lloyd and Twilight against the lamps, "What you have isn't power-" Lloyd started before he was cut off when Chen knocked him and Twilight into two lamps.
"It's stealing from those who already have it!" Twilight finished before Chen smashed her and Lloyd against each other three times, sending them crashing to the ground as Chen landed with them, cackling.
"Real power doesn't need to be taken from others or used to divide them!" Lloyd told him as he charged at Chen, only for him to turn into smoke, and the colt phased through him, crashing into the roster.
Chen turned physical again as Twilight jumped between him and Lloyd. "Real power comes from unity and is used to stop villains like you!" She finished before firing her most powerful laser at Chen.
Chen then turned into metal as it bounced back at Twilight, blasting her back into Lloyd and the two crashed into the roster. They groaned and fell unconscious as Chen turned back to normal. "Only one can remain," Chen repeated as he began to crackle again as the two pictures of Twilight and Lloyd broke in half and fell from the roster.
Aqua groaned as she regained consciousness and opened her eyes. "Aqua," Garmadon's voice called as she turned and saw him, Spike, and Luna with their hooves chained to the poles. "Are you all right?" He asked in concern.
"Ugh, Y-Yes but, what happened?" Aqua wondered before she noticed they were in a pit field with skulls and bones.
"Skeletons! So, many skeletons!" Spike said in fear.
"We must get out of here!" Luna said as they all struggled to break their restraints.
"Our pet loves the smell of fear," Grimoire said as he, his sister, Chen, and Topaz walked in.
"And we have a feeling she'll be especially eager for tonight's dinner," Charm said with a smirk.
"Where's my son and his friends?!" Garmadon questioned.
"What have you done with them!?" Spike yelled.
"I have your friends," Chen spoke up before he turned to them with a sinister smile. "But their powers and magic will become mine at the ceremony tonight," he said to them before looking at Garmadon and Luna and leaning towards them with a firm tone. "I'm sorry you two didn't get an invite. I'm still a little hurt by my pupils deciding to betray me so long ago!"
Aqua and Spike were shocked but more worried about their friends. "But how did you defeat them?" Aqua asked.
"They're the most powerful ponies there are! Twilight would never go down that easily!" Spike pointed out.
"Well, I had a little help," Chen said before gesturing to the door.
Coming out of the door is Rainbow Dash and Trail, who are both looking down in guilt and regret as their four friends gasp in shock while Luna and Garmadon glared at Chen, "You pitted the Ninja and the Council against themselves," Garmadon growled.
"Just as you did the Kingdoms of Equestria!" Luna snarled at Chen.
"Why, Trail? How could you do this?" Aqua asked her brother while feeling betrayed.
"You're the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow! How could you betray Twi like that?!" Spike questioned as well.
"Chen holds all the power. The others alone never stood a chance," Trail said to them in a guilty tone.
"We had to think about what was best for us," Rainbow continued. "He'll let you all go if-"
"I'd rather be snake food!" Aqua snarled.
Luna then gave a yell of anger as she grabbed Topaz by the tail and pulled her into choke hold. "Unchain us! Or this treacherous wretch pays the consequences!" she warned as Topaz struggled to break free or breathe.
Chen, however, laughed with Grimoire and Charm joining in amusement. "Or what? You've changed like Garmadon, remember? You may not be princess anymore, but not even you can hurt a fellow pony. And Garmadon is Sensei Garmadon." Luna and Garmadon frowned while Topaz was shocked by her grandfather's lack of care. "You two are the good guys. Threats don't frighten me."
Luna frowned as she realized that Chen was right as she shoved Topaz to them. Topaz gasped for air and gave her grandfather a glare at his words, while Chen kept smiling as he turned to the twins. The twins smirked as they gestured to the big gates behind them. "Our pet may be napping, but she's always hungry when she wakes up," Grimoire said with a smirk.
"So you three better enjoy your moments together, because they will be the last," Charm finished with a chuckle.
"You two had a good run, Garmadon and Luna," Chen mocked. "But all good things must come to an end," He and the others walked out as they cackled while Topaz followed before Trail and Rainbow slowly followed them in sadness.
"This isn't you, Trail! Don't do this!" Aqua begged her brother.
"You know this isn't right, Rainbow! You never turn your back on your friends! Never!" Spike bedded his rainbow-maned friend.
"Sorry, guys. This is the way it has to be," Trail said in guilt.
"Wish we could change things, but there's nothing we can't do," Rainbow finished, but then the two smirked and gave their friends a wink, which surprised the three as they smiled to one another, realizing that they were playing along.
In the hallway, Chen turned to the twins. "Have the factory prepare a feast in honor of the ceremony, Grimoire and Charm," he ordered as the two nodded in understanding while Topaz, Rainbow, and Trail followed behind them. "I'm in the mood for noodles."
Rainbow then turned Topaz to them. "Luna could've choked the air out of your lungs and your gramps didn't even bat an eye about it," she pointed out.
"After everything you've done for him, this is how your grandfather treats you? It doesn't have to be like this," Trail said to her, knowing that Topaz shouldn't live the way Chen treats her.
"But he has the Staff," Topaz pointed out. "There's nothing I can do about it,"
"But what if we can?" Rainbow asked while feeling guilt. "Twi and Lloyd didn't stand a chance alone, even if Flash and Rarity were there, they would've still gotten their flanks kicked,"
"But if Chen trusts us, we can get close to the Staff, and then-" Trail tried to speak.
"Why would you two tell me this after I betrayed you both and the others?" Topaz asked in confusion while feeling guilty in her.
"You spared us for a reason," Rainbow said while smiling. "I bet you actually did see us as your friends."
"And you know I'm far too fetching to resist," Trail added with a smirk and wink as Topaz smiled back and blushed.
Rainbow gave a rolled eye with a smirk. "Seriously, if you two flirt the whole time, I'm joining the others in that snake pit," she said before walking on. "Come on, we got a ceremony to bust."
In the factory, a large tarp was over two machines as Yah-Karlof, Rivet, and Dr. Gear are still working on the jet and chopper while the rest of the Ninja and Council, Starlight, Max, and Smolder are working on them as fast as they could.
And then, the guard leader came walking up to them as Rivet whistled while the Ninja and their friends covered the rest of the vehicles up and hid behind them as the three engineers turned to the guard as they went up to him.
"Uh sorry, they're still not fixed yet," Dr. Gear lied.
"But, we're almost done," Rivet added with a nervous smile.
"Soon, noodle and dumpling machines fire all cylinders," Yah-Karlof said with a smile.
Zugu shook his head. "No, make now," He pushed them aside and went up to the machines. "Master Chen wants noodles and dumplings for the big ceremony."
"What ceremony?" Turner asked in interest.
"Chen defeated the Light Ninja, the Wind Ninja, Princesses Rarity and Twilight, thanks to the Master of Fire and the Element of Treachery," Zugu answered with a smug smile. "Now no creature in Equestria can stop us," He laughed as he continued onto the two machines.
Meanwhile, Thunder and the girls looked to each other in shock, "Trail and Rainbow?" Thunder said in shock.
"No, no they couldn't. They wouldn't!" Fluttershy tried to deny, not believing her oldest friend was traitor.
The three engineers and Turner looked at each other as they followed him. "Look at the bright side, at least all your jobs just became permanent."
Soon, the three engineers went up to him. "Uh, Machines still have few minor kinks," Yah-Karlof tried to say, but Zugu pushed him far into a basket with a laugh.
"Give me those sheets," Zugu ordered as he removed the tarp, which revealed something he was not expecting. "Those aren't noodle and dumpling machines!" he called.
The noodle machine had been turned into a Roto Jet, which had an Elemental Earth detail with Landrush's cutie mark on the wings. By contrast, the dumpling machine had been turned into the twin-bladed Skychopper, which had a style modeled after Gaia, her cutie mark, and her Life Element.
"Eheh, that's the kinks," Dr. Gear said with a smirk.
"Now!" Rivet yelled.
And then punching from the top, Gaia and Landrush attack the guards from up top as they landed on their respective vehicles as they then started up. "Landrush?! And Gaia?! They're here!" Zugu called.
"I'd get out the way if I were you," Frost advised from the side with a smirk.
Gaia and Landrush's vehicles powered up as Zugu and the guard he was holding got what Frost meant and they screamed and moved out of the way before the vehicles started firing. Destroying much equipment in the factory as the prisoners cheered to the two Ninja, while Thunder and Lightning Dust ducked from incoming fire.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Easy, tigers!" Thunder called out with a look.
"Watch the friendly fire, Mr. and Mrs. Trigger Happy!" Lightning Dust yelled.
Landrush and Gaia stopped firing as they realized what they had done. "Whoa," Landrush said in amazement before chuckling.
"Oh, heheh, our sincerest apologies," Gaia apologized with a giggle.
The guards then started coming out of hiding as the prisoners saw them. "Over there!" Turner called out as the guards then started charging towards them.
The prisoners and loser competitors all went up behind the vehicles and started pushing as Landrush and Gaia continued firing, which caused the guards to scream as they all dodged or ducked for cover.
"When will they fly?" Landrush called out.
"The weapons work, but we still cannot get into the air," Gaia pointed out since they still can't seem to get their vehicles off the ground.
Dr. Gear, Rivet, and Yah-Karlof came up as Dr. Gear and Rivet were on the Skycopper and Yah-Karlof was on the Roto-Jet with their tools. "They fly when they fly! No sooner!" Yah-Karlof said.
"We told you there are still a few kinks to work out," Rivet added.
"Just give us a few minutes to get them airworthy!" Dr. Gear finished as they all started tinkering with the vehicles' engines.
The others turned and saw more guards coming in. "I don't think we have a few minutes!" Max called while holding his sister protectively.
"On the other side!" Applejack called out as they all turned the vehicles around while Gaia and Landrush continue firing them back, as the guards duck for cover.
"We can't keep up like this! We'll run out of bolts trying to fight them off!" Landrush stated.
"Agreed, either you three, make these confounded contraptions fly or give another way out of this horrid factory!" Gaia called to the three mechanics.
"No problem!" Yah-Karloff called as he gestured down to the controls. "Ponies push red buttons!" Gaia and Landrush both pressed the red buttons, which caused a couple of missiles to be released from their vehicles, which blasted the door open as the prisoners all started cheering.
"Freedom!" Starlight cheered loudly as they all pushed the vehicles to the exit.
"This is why you do not make vehicles designed for flying underground, darlings!" Gaia called out with annoyance.
"The power of positive thinking," both Thunder and Pinkie said in unison as they all pushed towards the exit before the guards from behind them then started chasing them.
"Behind you!" Rivet called as they turned the vehicles around and fired more missiles, which caused them to move out of the way as the heroes moved to the exits and out of the factory as they entered the tunnels.
In the Ceremony alter, drums banged as Chen's Followers chanted as Chen, Grimoire, Charm, Topaz, Rainbow, and Trail watched as Kapau and Chope pulled in the chained Lloyd, Twilight, Flash, and Rarity down the stairs. "Just look at us. We're escorting the big dogs now," Kapau said with a smirk.
"Heh," Chope chuckled, "Like I said, Kapau and Chope moving up the ranks." The two pushed the four ponies down and chained their hooves to the ground as they struggled to break free from them.
Eyezor then gave a signal to move aside and Kapau and Chope quickly joined the other Cultists and began chanting with them. Rainbow and Trail approached their friends. "Why would you two help them?" Lloyd questioned in anger.
"How could you betray us, Rainbow? After everything we've been through?" Twilight questioned with tears.
"This is madness. We never thought you two of all ponies would do such a thing," Rarity added in shock and betrayal.
"Which is a lot since you tackled us down!" Flash yelled.
"Look we're sorry…" Rainbow whispered to them before Charm walked up to her. "That I didn't switch to the winning side in the first place!" she added with a smirk.
"Don't worry," Trail told them before Grimoire looked at him. "It won't hurt, heh, that much." He added a fake evil laugh.
Chen then spoke up, "Alright, first thing's first. Granddaughter!" He called as he turned to Topaz.
Topaz gasped in shock as she turned to Rainbow and Trail, who nodded at her as Topaz walked in front of Chen. "I offer my power to you, Grandfather," she said as she stood up as Chen used the Staff on her as Topaz groaned as her powers were extracted.
"Only one can remain," Chen said as he extracted his granddaughter's powers.
In the snake pit, Aqua and Spike are still struggling to break free while Luna and Garmadon watch. "Some help you are, Trail," Aqua muttered.
"Rainbow, can't you at least fill us in once and a while?" Spike asked in annoyance. They then heard hissing and looked ahead to see the Anacondrai Serpentine coming at them. "What is that?!"
"It's karma," Garmadon spoke up. "After personally destroying the biggest snake Equestria has ever seen, it's only reasonable the second biggest would exact its revenge on me." The large Serpentine slithered out of its hole and let out a loud hiss as it was eyeing its meal. It roared at Aqua who looked away in fright before turning its attention towards Garmadon. It then slithered around them as its tongue was near Luna's face before it hissed at Spike.
"Uh, you know, we have a friend who is an Anacondrai herself, I'd think?" Spike asked nervously.
And then the Serpentine turned back to Aqua, who gasped as it lounged towards her as Aqua closed her eyes. But then the wall behind them burst open as it broke the chains on the four captives as the Serpentine roared in surprise. The Roto Jet and Skychopper came in and blasted everything they got at the Serpentine, causing the rumble to fall over it and the Serpentine was knocked out as its tail fell.
The four blinked in surprise. "Where'd that come from?!" Aqua asked in confusion.
"Whoo-hoo! We did it!" Landrush cheered as he and Gaia jumped out of their vehicles while the other prisoners came in.
"Now that's what I call a prison break," Gaia quipped before she helped Garmadon and Luna. "Hope we didn't startle you."
"Well, hello, Masters of Earth and Life," Garmadon greeted with a smile.
"Uh-uh. Don't forget Master of Lightning," Thunder added, coming up to him.
"And the Elements of Laughter, Honesty, and Kindness," Pinkie finished, hugging Fluttershy and Applejack.
They then saw Aqua running towards them. Thunder expected a hug from her but ran past him as she and Spike quickly gave Frost a loving hug.
"Frost, you're back!" Aqua and Spike both exclaimed with tears of joy running down their cheeks as Aqua kissed his cheek.
Frost turned his head all the way around. "What? What is on my back?" He asked, misunderstanding what they meant.
"Hehe. Not what we mean, Frost," Spike corrected with a smile while nuzzling Frost's side. "It's great to see you again, buddy. Whoa, are you made of silver or chrome?" He asked, noticing Frost's new appearance.
"Titanium," Frost answered while tapping his head. "Completely unbreakable. Strongest material in Equestria."
Gaia, Thunder, and Landrush laughed at the sight as they turned to Rivet, Dr. Gear, and Yah-Karlof, who were still working on the Roto Jet and Skychopper. "Guys, why aren't these things off the ground yet?" Landrush asked them.
"Hey, even with the three of us, we can only work so fast on two flying machines," Rivet pointed out.
"We were lucky these things are operational with the parts we had from the factory. But we're nearly done," Dr. Gear said.
"Well, you three are gonna fix it, because you know why?" Landrush asked with a smirk.
"Sure," Yah-Karlof started with a smile before everycreature else finished.
"Positive thinking!" everycreature cheered. But then suddenly, the Anacondrai erupted from the rocks roaring loudly.
"Oh, come on!" Thunder complained. "This thing is still going!?" Fluttershy then noticed something different from the Serpentine as it was giving out a different sound, almost like it was hurt.
"Wait, I don't think it's roaring at us," Fluttershy said as she slowly walked towards it.
"Fluttershy, get away from that thing! It will swallow you whole!" Spike called out.
Fluttershy ignored him as she got close to the Serpentine, who growled at her. Fluttershy flinched before the Serpentine's growl became weak as it laid its head while whining in pain. Fluttershy felt pity for the Serpentine as she got closer to it with her hoof raised. "Oh my, did we hurt you when we burst through the wall?" she asked the Serpentine with concern.
"Can she still understand animals, even after her magic was taken away?" Shelley whispered to Applejack.
"Even before her Cutie Mark, Fluttershy always have a soft spot for animals," Applejack whispered back.
Fluttershy slowly got close to the Serpentine as she softly placed her hoof on its head, which caused it to flinch a little while she spoke calmly to it. "Shhh, it's okay, I just want to help you."
And then, Fluttershy brought out a medical kit she took from the factory as she brought out some medicine and some bandages as she turned to the Serpentine. "I have a nice young friend who is similar to your species, and these helped her when she was sick. Trust me, I want to help you," she said to it with a small smile.
The Serpentine looked at her skeptically before giving an accepting rumble and lowered its head, which made Fluttershy smile as she applied the medicine to its head. After a few moments of applying the medicine, it let out a loud hiss and wrapped around Fluttershy which caused the others to take a defensive stance. But instead of attacking, the Serpentine happily snuggled against Fluttershy while nuzzling her cheek as a thank you.
Fluttershy giggled at the affection. "You are very welcome, little friend," she said with a smile.
"...Little?" Turner said stunned.
The Serpentine hisses softly to her with its tail rattling as the others had their jaw dropped at the sight.
"You gotta be kidding?!" Rivet asked in shock.
"Okay, is there anything Fluttershy can't tame?" Starlight asked in shock.
"Because this is a new record," Smolder added in disbelief.
Applejack and Pinkie laughed at their reaction. "That's Fluttershy," they said with a shrug.
"I am completely speechless at this outcome," Max said in shock.
"You said it, big bro," Mini said just as stunned.
Dr. Gear and Yah-Karlof then closed the engines of the two vehicles with smiles. "Good news, the Roto Jet and the Skychopper are ready to fly!" Dr. Gear declared.
"Excellent! Now we can stop Chen and his diabolical schemes!" Gaia cheered.
"Well, what are we waiting for!? Let's go and get our magic and powers back!" Landrush called.
"We must stop Chen before it's too late!" Luna declared as they all cheered together.
Meanwhile, Chen had just finished draining Topaz of her power and magic as she felt very weak before she fell to the floor, groaning a bit as she stood up and moving to the side as she rubbed her head.
"Alright, now bring Sentry and the Princess of Generosity forward first," Chen ordered as Flash and Rarity were pushed in front of Chen. "Only one can remain!" The light shone down on the town and they yelled in pain, feeling their powers drained out of them before collapsing once completely depleted.
Chen then walked up to Lloyd and Twilight. "And now for the final Elements: Light and Magic!" He said as the two gasped while Trail and Rainbow's guilt grew. "Only one can remain!"
Both Lloyd and Twilight grunted and groaned as they felt their power and magic being pulled out of them. "No!" Twilight cried out before she and Lloyd fell to the floor as their power had been completely drained while Chen held up his Staff high.
"Behold, every Elemental power is all in my control!" He declared with sweet victory. "Do you feel the power? I do!"
Charm and Grimoire then brought out their spellbook and started chanting the spell as their horns glowed in dark magic while Chen kept his Staff close to their horns. "All of you who bear the mark of the Anacondrai, it is time!" Chen cheered as his minions kept bowing or banging the drums. "We will shed our skins for new ones, and be the most powerful force in all of Equestria!"
Topaz turned to Trail and Rainbow, who smiled at her and they nodded to her, which gives her the single as she walked up to Chen. "Grandfather, let me stand beside you," she said to him as she stood beside him.
"Yes. Yes. Join me," Chen said in agreement with a wide smile. "After today, not only will Master Chen be Equestria's number one noodle house, but Equestria's number one ruler!" Grimoire and Charm continued their chanting onto the Staff as their horns glowed brightly.
Trail and Rainbow nodded to each other with smirks. "Hey, Chen!" Rainbow called as the four turned to her. "That plan sounds great and all," She started.
"Except you forgot one Element," Trail continued.
Chen chuckled, "Oh really, and what's that?" He asked.
Trail and Rainbow just smirked. "The Element of Surprise!" They both declared and pointed to Topaz.
Topaz then did a spin kick as she kicked the Staff out of Chen's hoof as it landed on the ground between them as Rainbow and Trail kicked the guards away, much to everycreature's surprise. "Topaz, you betray me!?" Chen asked in shocked rage.
"Runs in the family!" Topaz retorted before kicking Chen away and Trail took the Staff. Two guards grabbed Topaz from behind before Trail used Lightning to blast them off.
Rainbow then unlocked Lloyd and the others. "That was all an act?" Flash said in surprise.
"Of course, it was," Rainbow said with a scoff. "Do you really think we would betray our friends to some crazy villain?" She asked with a smirk.
Twilight smiled. "As if I could ever doubt you," she said happily.
"We got it all under control," Trail told them as Grimoire was making a break for a lever. "Well, almost." Grimoire pulled the lever to release a vat of acid right on top of Twilight and Lloyd. It would have gotten them if Trail had not used the Staff and used the Element of Light to create a shield around them. Charm summoned up dark magic to try and to attack Trail as her horn glowed dark. "Ice!" Trail quickly fired an ice beam at her and her brother, trapping them in a block of ice.
Eyezor growled as he charged at Trail, but then a trapdoor opened beneath him as he fell in with a scream. Trail turned to Topaz, who pulled a lever as she waved to him with a smile as Trail winked at her for the help.
"Hurry, Trail, you must destroy the Staff!" Lloyd called as he and the others rushed up to him.
"Once it's destroyed, the power and magic should return to their rightful owners!" Twilight explained.
Trail ignored them as he looked at the Staff with a smirk at it. "Chen was right. This thing's awesome!" he declared as his eyes started to glow red before he started to use more of the Elements within the Staff on Chen's ponies.
"Trail, it holds too much power!" Flash called out. "Destroy it!" Trail looked as if he was fighting himself as his eyes were switching between his normal to glowing and back again.
"What's going on?!" Rarity asked in concern. "Why isn't he destroying it?!"
"It's the power, it must be corrupting him!" Twilight exclaimed in worry. "If we don't get that Staff out of his hooves-"
"NOPONY IS TAKING MY STAFF!" Trail shouted as his voice sounded disoriented as his friends backed away from him. "YOU HAD ALL THE POWER, LLOYD! NOW IT'S MY TURN!" Trail quickly shook head as his eyes returned to normal. "Ah, what am I saying?!" His eyes glowed red again as he held up the Staff. "NOTHING I DON'T ALREADY FEEL!"
Chen watched on with a smirk. "Yes. Yes. Embrace the power!" He urged.
Trail looked at the Staff in conflict. "I can't- I can't control it!" He cried before his eyes turned red again. "I WANT TO CONTROL IT! I SHOULD'VE BEEN THE LIGHT NINJA!" He roared as he charged up the Staff with the Element of Light at his friends, who backed away fearfully.
"Trail, snap out of it!" Rainbow shouted waving her hooves frantically. "We're your friends!"
"Don't do this!" Flash tried to reason with him. But before Trail could fire, the snake statue from behind them exploded as the head fell off as they moved out of the way while Trail dropped the Staff as Gaia and Landrush flew in with the others.
"Did anyone order some 'kung POW'!?" Landrush joked on his jet.
"Because we made a perfect delivery service," Gaia quipped as the Elemental Masters and prisoners then started Chen's army as the rest of their friends came in last. Frost then grabbed one of the cultists as he spun him around and knocked him to the others like a bowling ball.
Frost kept spinning as his head spun before he stopped and steady himself as Twilight, Flash, Lloyd, and Rarity came up to him. "Frost! You're here!" Flash cheered.
"Good to see you again, buddy," Lloyd said happily.
"And it's good to be back," Frost told them.
"I must say, you look absolutely fabulous like that, darling!" Rarity complemented with glee.
Twilight laughed with joy. "You look good as new! Maybe even better," she said happily.
Trail set up and held his head before he looked around for the Staff and saw that it was in the center of the room in the middle of the fight. Both he and Chen started to make a break for the Staff before Rivet quickly pounced off Chen and grabbed the Staff. "Time to correct my mistakes!" she declared as she slammed the crystal part of the Staff down on the ground, shattering it into pieces.
"NO!" Chen exclaimed as the Elemental powers and magic were released and restored to their true masters. With their powers restored, the power also returning them into their Elemental attire, they were now all powered up and ready to kick some serious butt.
"Now snaky ponies in big trouble! YAHHH!" Yah-Karlof called as he slammed his hooves together in his metal form.
"NINJA, GO!" the now reunited Ninja declared as all seven of them did Spinjitzu together while Chen's soldiers ran for the hills.
The Mane Six, Spike, Starlight, Smolder, and Aqua watched in happiness at the sight of their friends together again. "It always brings tears to my eyes when I see the old gang back together," Starlight said happily.
"Yeah, I really missed seeing them do that," Smolder mentioned as Spike wrapped his arm around her.
"The Ninja Team is together again as a whole," Twilight said happily.
The Ninja then stopped doing Spinjitzu when they saw the remaining of Chen's army raised their hooves in surrender as they, the Elemental Masters and the other prisoners surrounded them.
Luna and Garmadon then looked at the melted blocks of ice where Grimoire and Charm used to be as they saw footprints in a direction as they gave a serious look, knowing that they escaped.
In a tunnel, Grimoire opened a hatch as Chen, and the remaining Cultists managed to avoid capture, but they caught Topaz, who was tied up as they entered the passage as Chen groaned in rage. "They have all the power!" he yelled.
"For now, Master," Charm assured them.
"But not for long," Grimoire said as they went further into the tunnel while dragging Topaz along.
A little bit later at sunrise, all the cultists were gathered in the courtyard by both the Elemental Masters and the prisoners now that they have their powers back. "Make sure they're all secure!" Twilight ordered. "And make sure to get some information out of some of them."
Fluttershy then remembered something, "Oh, I almost forgot." She then flew off. "I have to go bring the Serpentine up from the tunnels. It's not right for it to be underground," she said to her friends before flying off.
"Sure thing, Fluttershy. Bring that old snake up," Applejack said to her with a tip of a hat, but then saw Lloyd, Flash, Rainbow, Rarity, Trail, and Twilight's shocked reaction by what Fluttershy just said. "Oh right, Fluttershy tamed that giant snake from the tunnels earlier," She explained.
That hit them like a brick, "Wait? What?! Flutters tamed that thing?!" Rainbow Dash asked in shock.
Pinkie chuckled, "Yep! Fluttershy is an animal lover! The best there is!" She said cheerfully.
The five are still shocked by this. "Okay, even after what just happened, my mind is now blown," Twilight muttered.
"She's gonna need to make Sweet Feathers Sanctuary a little bigger, if she brings that thing home," Flash commented.
"And maybe some food that doesn't eat other living creatures like us, darlings," Rarity suggested fearfully.
"Hey, with Fluttershy, one can only hope," Lloyd said as Garmadon and Luna came over.
"No sign of Chen," Garmadon informed the others before he looked at Trail. "And no sign of Topaz either."
"If it weren't for her help, we wouldn't have control of the island," Luna mentioned.
"Don't worry, brother, we'll find her," Aqua assured him with a smile.
"It's funny," Trail spoke as he looked at Frost with a smile. "We came here to find an old friend." Frost flipped a few switches before activating his funny mode as he played funny music and danced around all funny-like. They all laughed as Frost continued a classic gag.
"Hello my baby~ Hello my honey~ Hello my rag-time gal~" Frost sang as his friends kept laughing.
"I just never thought we'd make new ones," Trail finished solemnly as Garmadon placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"We'll find her, Trail. And we'll find Chen," Garmadon assured.
"Now that you've become whole once more, there is nothing you cannot accomplish," Luna added before she, the Ninja, the Mane Six, the Washouts, and the rest of the Elemental Masters enjoyed the little show Frost was putting on.